NASA

The SolarWall® heating system also solved two other problems. Firstly, because the technology heats ventilation air, it improved the indoor air quality in the hangar. Secondly, the SolarWall system remedied the problem of negative pressure; this ensured that the use of hydrazine in adjacent hangars did not endanger the health of workers. The computerized control system ensures an optimum level of comfort and ventilation during the heating season. This project has received a tremendous amount of positive feedback; Dryden was the recipient of the Presidential Award for Federal Energy Management, and in 2001 was designated as a Federal Energy Saver Showcase Facility by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Background

Building 1623, an aircraft hangar, received a 4,000 ft2
(372 m2
) bronze SolarWall®
system on its south facing
wall. This innovative, highly sophisticated, and maintenance
free solar air heating system is heating 18,000 cfm
of fresh air, and was projected to save $15,000 a year
(using 2002 natural gases prices). The SolarWall system
also saves NASA on environmental compliance costs and
reduces greenhouse gas emissions.